The Welcome Back Mixer, hosted by the Mittal Institute on September 8, brought together students, faculty, staff, and South Asia-focused student organizations from across Harvard to kick off the new academic year. Over a South Asian dinner, attendees had the opportunity to make new connections, learn about upcoming programs and opportunities, and discover the many ways to engage with the Institute and the broader South Asia community at Harvard.
Prof. Diana L. Eck, Professor of Comparative Religion and Indian Studies, Emerita, Frederic Wertham Research Professor of Law and Psychiatry in Society, and the Mittal Institute’s Faculty Director, kicked off the evening festivities by reflecting on the past year at the Institute, including the Living with Rivers project, and welcoming everyone in the room to the new academic year and to the growing South Asia community at Harvard.
Former Mittal Institute director and Harvard Business School professor Tarun Khanna spoke about the Institute’s work across a range of areas, including climate and health, and welcomed students and members of the Harvard community to the new academic year.
Mittal Institute faculty from across the University—including Dr. Satchit Balsari, Associate Professor in Emergency Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center—took to the floor to introduce themselves, their research, and courses, to share the range of South Asia–focused scholarship happening on campus.
Prof. Rahul Mehrotra, John T. Dunlop Professor in Housing and Urbanization at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, spoke about his work in India and the intersections between architecture, urbanism, and broader social and environmental challenges, including climate, health, and housing.
Mittal Institute Executive Director Hitesh M. Hathi introduced representatives from Harvard’s South Asian student groups, who each shared a brief overview of their organization and highlighted upcoming events and activities.
Left to right: Dr. Satchit Balsari; Dr. Jennifer Leaning, senior fellow at the Harvard FXB Center and Professor of the Practice of Health and Human Rights at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; and Prof. Diana L. Eck.
Left image: Prof. Jinah Kim, George P. Bickford Professor of Indian and South Asian Art and Professor of South Asian Studies, reflected on the Mittal Institute’s Arts Program and her role as Faculty Director; Right image, left to right: Prof. Tarun Khanna; Prof. Rahul Mehrotra; Dr. Martha Chen, lecturer in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School; and Jaspal Singh
Student organizations set up tables in the Concourse showcasing their work. Representatives shared their initiatives, activities, major events, and opportunities for collaboration.
The evening wrapped up with a shared South Asian meal, giving everyone a chance to keep the conversation going and get to know one another. It was a great way to bring together Harvard’s South Asian community and celebrate the many connections across campus.